"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed."- Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787

These are eloquent words spoken by as educated of a man as there was at the time. Noah Webster is an American icon, an editor of the Federalist Papers, an eminent author, and an opponent of slavery. He also lived in a different era where different truths applied. The United States government has access to weapons far superior to the collective gun arsenals held by citizens. Tanks and fighter jets will quickly negate an assault rifle. One cannot argue with the fact that dictatorships have upheld themselves by the barrel of a gun. Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong took the guns from the people rendering them defenseless to brutality and genocide. While firearms would help in resistance against government they would ultimately fail in the face of the firepower of the United States military. Defense against an oppressive government is no longer a valid reason for owning guns.

The excerpt sort of ends at a part that seems to possibly give the impression that the article is claiming people shouldnt have guns. This is not the thesis of the article. It argues people do need guns to protect themselves from others but that in the case of an oppressive government guns would do little good against the firepower of the United States military.

Well, maybe. The Iraqis are able to prevent us from pacifying that country because the country was full of small arms. With the right leaders, a people can make life miserable for the most powerful tyrant with the most powerful army.

Simple- Outlaw Liberalism- With no liberals, peopel are FREE to defend themselves agaisnt criminals- Criminals will NOT attempt their crimes in neighborhoods where homeowners are experienced gun owners

By the time it all becomes relevant the officer corps in the military will be almost entirely loyal to The One and the troops will follow their officers. I expect there will be or are already “political” officers whose numbers will grow and who will be responsible for keeping the other officers and noncoms in line. Troops will be more and more vetted for loyalty to their officers rather than to the Constitution or the society. The impending drawdown will facilitate that. Slashing the military will weaken it vis-a-vis the rest of the world but will strengthen it against the citizenry of the USA. Besides, the military will be more or less sidelined in a civil conflict while TSA and DHS etc etc will do the dirty work.These internal troops will be trained in using whatever weapons are deemed appropriate and drones, which require far fewer personnel in the close up personal action will take the place of tanks and artillery, at least in the early stages. The military will participate only if the internal troops are in danger of being overwhelmed. That is, in good par because leftists rulers always fear their militaries. The Soviets didn’t really trust theirs much until well after WWII and Achmedinejad still doesn’t trust his, nor does Morsi trust his. American leftists all hate the military and it is because they don’t trust it, they rather fear it.

Time... You make a good case; plus — I had overlooked the rapid turnover in the military. Maybe it’s now or never — but, a lone 75-year-old out in the boonies has little influence on such things... :-(

Which is it - do you want to reduce gun violence, or do you want to reduce violence and save lives?

If all you care about is gun violence, just pass a law saying violence committed without a gun is OK. Then anyone who wants to commit violence will go to some trouble to do so without a gun, if possible.

Im not saying that under a law like that criminals might not crucify you - but at least they wouldnt be using guns to do it. </sarcasm>

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